Bates on her naked hot tub scene: “At the very beginning, before I had even met (writer-director) Alexander (Payne), he and I exchanged rather explicit emails, especially for two people who had never set two eyes on each other, about what I would do and what he needed (for the scene).”

What we said: “Giving Nicholson a run for his money here is Kathy Bates, who is sensationally funny and on the money as an aging flower child and earth mother who’s twice divorced and has no shortage of opinions on every topic. … Her startlingly upfront nude scene, in which she joins Schmidt in her Jacuzzi in attempt to nail husband No. 3, is something no audience would ever have expected to see, and it’s funny as hell.” — Todd McCarthy (May 22)

What they said: “Kathy Bates is a nonstop pleasure as Randall’s full-bodied mom, a force of nature who drops her clothes to jump in a hot tub with Schmidt, the one scene (and it’s a pip) where Nicholson gives his eyebrow a hilarious workout.” — Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

This could be the night: Baring all got a best picture nom for “The Full Monty” in 1998.

Then comes the rub: The last time a performance this outrageous won a supporting category was Marisa Tomei for “My Cousin Vinny” (1992).